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Curbing Period Poverty: Over 1,200 Students To Receive Reusable Menstrual Hygiene Kits

Par Kimeng Hilton
26 Sep 2026 17:05
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The donation by the Past Present Future Africans, PPFA Foundation will be made during a month-long outreach in seven colleges in three regions.

The Past Present Future Africans, PPFA Foundation has announced a national Menstrual Health Education and Hygiene Initiative in partnership with Days for Girls International, DfG. Scheduled to run from September 30, 2026 to late October 2026, the outreach targets 1,242 adolescent girls from seven secondary schools in three Cameroon administrative regions. Equipping them with reusable menstrual hygiene kits and health training.

School Absenteeism, Period Poverty

The programme aims to eliminate absenteeism caused by period poverty, a key factor forcing young girls to miss classes and drop out of school. Speaking to Cameroon Tribune Online on the initiative, Prof. Dr. Solomon Nfor, President and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the PPFA Foundation, emphasized that good health remains an indispensable prerequisite for academic success.

Cultural Myths, Social Stigma

"In many regions across Cameroon, adolescent girls face significant barriers to staying in school, primarily driven by 'period poverty,'" Prof. Nfor stated. "A lack of affordable, high-quality menstrual hygiene products, combined with deeply entrenched cultural myths and social stigma, frequently force young girls to miss classes every month. By addressing these structural and social barriers directly, we aim to ensure that a natural biological process never stands in the way of a girl's right to an education," Prof. Nfor explained.

Reusable Menstrual Kits

The campaign marks the foundation's first large-scale, multi-regional rollout executed alongside Days for Girls International, introducing structured educational workshops and long-lasting supplies. Each of the 1,242 participating students will receive a reusable DfG Menstrual Kit designed to last up to 10 years. Offering a sustainable alternative to costly disposable options.

Workshops led by local PPFA Ambassadors - Lovelyne Ndifor (North West Region), Odette Fortachi Ngenge (Littoral Region), and Marbel Nfor (Centre Region) - will focus on menstrual biology, hygiene practices, self-confidence, and dispelling cultural taboos.

Seven Schools

The target institutions cover a blend of major urban centers and semi-urban or rural communities: There are Government High School, GHS Tabenken (North West Region) - September 30, 2026 (170 girls). Government Bilingual High School, GBHS Nkambe (North West Region) - October 2, 2026 (270 girls). Lycée Grand Souza and NBCC Souza (Littoral Region) - October 10, 2026 (100 girls each).

Other sites are Horizon Bilingual Educational Complex, HOBEC, Bonaberi, Douala - October 14, 2026 (200 girls); Queensway International College, Yaounde - October 16, 2026 (200 girls). And Lycée d’Ahala, Yaounde - late October (200 girls).

Selection Criteria

Prof. Solomon Nfor noted that the selection of the seven institutions relied on PPFA’s established relationships with local administrators, a desire for geographic diversity. And school readiness to identify students who are entering adolescence.